Monolithic pressure regulator

Abstract

A monolithic pressure regulator may comprise a boding comprising a base wall, an end wall, and a side wall, a cavity within the body, an input port in fluid communication with the cavity, an output port in fluid communication with the cavity, a first vesicle configured to regulate a flow of fluid through the input port into the cavity at a source pressure to exit through the output port at a regulated pressure, wherein the first vesicle comprises a first vesicle wall contiguous with a bulkhead and at least one of the base wall or the end wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A monolithic pressure regulator, comprising:
 a bulkhead; 
 a body comprising a base wall, an end wall, and a side wall, the body defining an input port and an output port; 
 a cavity within the body, the input port in fluid communication with the cavity, the output port in fluid communication with the cavity; 
 a vesicle configured to regulate a flow of fluid through the input port into the cavity at a source pressure to exit through the output port at a regulated pressure; and 
 a valve stem extending inward from the bulkhead to a valve head, the valve stem extending through the vesicle and through a valve guide at the end wall into the cavity, 
 wherein the vesicle comprises a vesicle wall that is contiguous with the bulkhead and at least one of the base wall or the end wall, 
 wherein the vesicle is disposed outward of the end wall and wherein the vesicle wall extends from an outer surface of the end wall into the bulkhead, and 
 wherein the body, the vesicle wall, the bulkhead, the valve stem, and the valve head are a monolithic structure of a homogeneous material. 
 
     
     
       2. The monolithic pressure regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the vesicle comprises one of a sinusoidal vesicle wall, a triangular vesicle wall, a trapezoidal vesicle wall, a sine-dwell vesicle wall, a rectangular vesicle wall, or an elliptical vesicle wall. 
     
     
       3. The monolithic pressure regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve head is configured to seat against an inner surface of the end wall. 
     
     
       4. The monolithic pressure regulator of  claim 3 , wherein a spring force exerted by the vesicle is configured to drive the bulkhead relatively away from the end wall and, in response, holds the valve head seated against the inner surface of the end wall. 
     
     
       5. An article of manufacture, including:
 a bulkhead; 
 a body comprising a base wall, an end wall, and a side wall, the body defining an input port and an output port; 
 a cavity within the body, the input port in fluid communication with the cavity, the output port in fluid communication with the cavity; and 
 a vesicle configured to regulate a flow of fluid through the input port into the cavity at a source pressure to exit through the output port at a regulated pressure; and 
 a valve stem extending inward from the bulkhead to a valve head, the valve stem extending through the vesicle and through a valve guide at the end wall into the cavity, 
 wherein the vesicle comprises a vesicle wall that is contiguous with the bulkhead and at least one of the base wall or the end wall, 
 wherein the vesicle is disposed outward of the end wall and wherein the vesicle wall extends from an outer surface of the end wall into the bulkhead, and 
 wherein the body, the vesicle wall, the bulkhead, the valve stem, and the valve head are a monolithic structure of a homogeneous material. 
 
     
     
       6. The article of manufacture of  claim 5 , wherein the vesicle comprises one of a sinusoidal vesicle wall, a triangular vesicle wall, a trapezoidal vesicle wall, a sine-dwell vesicle wall, a rectangular vesicle wall, or an elliptical vesicle wall. 
     
     
       7. The article of manufacture of  claim 5 , wherein the valve head is configured to seat against an inner surface of the end wall. 
     
     
       8. The article of manufacture of  claim 7 , wherein a spring force exerted by the vesicle is configured to drive the bulkhead relatively away from the end wall and, in response, holds the valve head seated against the inner surface of the end wall.